Combined gas and vapor burning device.



No. s3|,on|. Patented Aug. l5, |899.

R. THAYER. COMBINED GAS AND VAPDR BURNING DEVICE.

(Appnwwn mdnec. 1a, lesa) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

Patented Aug. I5, |899.

R. THAYER.

COMBINED GAS AND VAPOR BURNING DEVICE.

(Application filed Dec. 16, 189B.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

RUSSELL TIIAYER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE PENNSYLVANIA GLOBE GAS LIGHT COMPANY, OF PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED GAS AND VAPOR BURNING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,001, dated August 15, 1899.

Application filed December 16, 1898.. Serial No. 699,434. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, RUSSELL THAYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Combined Gas and Vapor Burning Device, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to obtain light, more especially for street-lighting purposes, in comparatively great quantity and at comparatively little cost. Otherwise expressed, the object is to increase the light of ordinary street-lamps materially without disturbing their gas-supply pipes and Without unduly increasing the expense of operating them.

To these and other ends the invention comprises the improvements hereinafter described and claimed.

The nature, characteristic features, and scope of my invention will be more fully understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and in Which- Figure l is an elevational view, partly in central section, illustrating a combination oil and gas fixture embodying features of my invention and provided with automatic pressure-generating apparatus. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the upper portion of the fixture embodying a modification of my invention and provided with manuary means for 4creating pressure. Fig. 3 is a detail View drawn to an enlarged scale in order to illustrate a check-valve shownvon Fig. l, and Fig. 4 is a sectional View drawn to an enlarged scale in order to illustrate twin gas and oil-vapor nozzles.

In the drawings I have shown an ordinary street-lamp and I Will describe my invention in connection therewith.

One or more mantles or incandescent elements l are properly mounted over burners that communicate with a mixing-tube 2 of comparatively large diameter, to the upper end of which air is admitted. The upper end of this tube is located in the heat zone,77 by which term is meant a position above the burner and in the region of considerable heat, and it receives not only the air, but also jets of vapor of oil or gasolene and of such illuminating-gas as is commonly supplied to street-lamp posts. The mixture when burned causes the mantles to incandesce and give a comparatively great quantity of light,because 5 5 it is well adapted for the production, when ignited, of a high temperature. Ordinarily the conditions of street-lighting by means of gas are such that comparatively little gas at a comparatively low pressure can be supplied. 6o Hence the maximum effective illumination possible with mantles cannot be attained.

Moreoven the pressure of gas in the mains varies widely in towns and cities, and this varying pressure interferes with the production of the best results by means of mantles. By the introduction of vapor of oil I am able to obtain a heating-flame of higher temperature than could be obtained by the use of gas under the conditions existing in most towns 7o andcities, and above referred to, becauseI may introduce as much oil as is necessary-in fact, more than could possibly be replaced by gas on account of the comparatively limited available supply of the latter and because the variations in pressure of the gas may be compensated for by controlling the pressure of the oil. The presence of the gas is not only advantageous because it gives rise to economy in the use of oil, but alsoy because it aords 8o means whereby the generation of vapor from the oil can be initially started. Moreover, the heated illuminatinggas when mixed with heated air and oil vapor or gas gives rise to a combustible mixture which does not condense as easily as does oil gas or vapor.

To introduce vapor of oil and gas into the mixing-tube 2, I may make use of a single nozzle, as 3, Fig. l, provided with a proper needle-valve, as 4, accessible from the exterior 9o of the lamp, or I may introduce only the vapor of oil through a nozzle 5, as shown in Fig. 2, and introduce the gas into the supply-pipe, as shown at 6 in said figure, or I may employ twin nozzles 7, Figxt, having appropriate nee- 9 5 dle-valves.

Sis the gas-pipe, and 9 is the pipe for supplying oil or gasolene or other iuid hydrocarbon. To accomplish the best results, the oil, gasolene, or other hydrocarbon fluid should be suproo plied under pressure through the pipe 9. As shown in Fig. 2, the necessary pressure may be created by means of the air-pump 10. As shown in Fig. 1, the necessary pressure is supplied automatically by means of a vaporizer 11, which consists of a closed chamber. A pipe 12, provided with a check-valve 13, leads from near the bottom of the oil fount or reservoir to the vaporizer 1l, and it may be provided with suitable material, which by capillary action serves to insure a proper supply of the liquid to the vaporizer. vaporized and escapes under considerable pressure by way of the pipe 14:, which discharges into the fount or reservoir near its top.

This pressure is created on top of the iiuid in the reservoir or fount and serves to feed fluid therefrom into the pipe 9 under considerable pressure.

15 is a deiiector centrally perforated, so as to permit hot products of combustion to reach the nozzle, in which the fluid is heated and therefore vaporized and also the vaporizer when present.

16 is a hood provided at its periphery with one or more openings for the escape of the products of combustion into the top of the lantern. This hood 16 operates after the fashion of a baffle-plate, and thus insures circulation of the hot products in such manner that they serve to vaporize the -iiuid and Warm or heat the air that enters the mixing tubev or pipe 2.

The mode of operation of the foregoing apparatus may be described as follows: In starting the light, the gas may be turned on first, and upon escaping from the pipe Sit enters the mixing tube or pipe 2 along with a supply of air and is burned under the mantles, lthus heating them moderately and also heating the nozzle 3. When oil, gasolene, or other hydrocarbon is introduced under pressure by way of the pipe 9, it is vaporized and the vapors enter the mixing tube or pipe 2, where- This liquid is.

the combination ofa mixing-tube having an air-inlet located in the heat zone of the device, means extending above the burner for preheating and introducing illuminating-gas into said tube at the heat zone, a nozzle exposed to heat and adapted to operate asa vaporizer and to discharge into said mixingtube at the heat zone,.and means for supplying hydrocarbon fluid to the nozzle, whereby the mixture of illuminating-gas, air and vapor is heated above the burner and then conveyed to the same, substantially as described. 2. A device of the type recited comprising the combination of an incandescent or Wels.

bach burner, a mixing-tube provided withan opening located in the heat zone, means located above the burner for preheating and supplying gas at the heat zone` to said tube, an oil-fount, vaporizing means in communication with the fount and adapted to automatically generate pressure therein, and a nozzle in communication with the fount fand adapted to discharge into said tube fat the heat zone, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my llame.

c RUSSELL TI-IAYER. In presence of- EvAN J. LESTER, W. J. JACKSON. 

